One Dead And Dozens Sick From Cholesterol-Lowering Pills.

Posted: March 26, 2024 | Last updated: March 27, 2024

Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is investigating a death and dozens of hospitalizations that could be linked to its product. The company said at least 76 people were admitted to the hospital after taking the beni koji fermented rice products. Kobayashi urged customers to stop using the pills advertised as cholesterol-lowering supplements and issued a voluntary recall. Beni koji is fermented rice with Monascus purpureus, a form of mold that is widely used as a color dye for food products. The firm suspects the issue may stem from previously undetected toxic substances in the molds that are used in production. Kobayashi received a message from a bereaved family saying someone died from kidney disease and had used the cholesterol product for 3 years. "Although we are diligently confirming the facts and casual relationships, we would like to report this from the perspective of prompt information disclosure. Our company has always prioritized the health of our customers above all else and we sincerely apologize for this situation," a statement by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical read. Customers reported changes in the color of their urine, swelling in their limbs and fatigue as possible side effects. Japanese media reported that over one million Red Yeast Cholesterol Help products have been sold since they hit shelves in February 2021. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical established a hotline for customers in January 2024 after a doctor alerted them to possible health risks.

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